Mr. Paul Kenny:

Much research has been done in this space. There are many papers and I am sure the Department has seen a lot of them. The high-level design of the renewal electricity support scheme is very good. My only complaint is urgency. Let is get it done. The Department could do with some resources to deliver that scheme quicker.

What has been seen in other parts of Europe has been that it should be equitable and fair. The big issue we have had is that someone will go stick a turbine beside a person's house and make lots of money and the resident will make no money. People will listen to it if there is equity and fairness. There will be a fertile ground to listen to whether they are good or bad whereas if there is no fairness, all they will listen to is the negative impact. We see that people who live very close to the turbines they own themselves are quite happy to listen to the noise, as that swoosh is money going into their bank account. We should learn from Denmark in that regard, and the Department has. The renewable electricity support scheme, RESS, is very supportive of that.

The only other point I would make in terms of the communication is that when it comes to some of the issues people will raise in terms of the negative stuff around noise and shadow flicker, there should be clear guidelines, good support and good evidence-based science from an official point of view. The HSE stating this does not affect people's health is very important to undermine the contrary parts of society. My only other advocacy is to say let us be clear on the message.